Penn all-state QB enrolls at FCS

In two seasons as the starter at Pius X, the 6-0, 165-lb. Long threw for 6,547 yards and 73 touchdowns. He also rushed for 1,286 yards on 201 attempts -- an average of 6.39 yards per carry with 21 touchdowns.

According to a blog post on ESPN.com Long has already received scholarship offers from UCLA and Syracuse and has been invited to a prospect camp at Penn State.

His decision to leave Pius X in Mid-May and his subsequent relocation to Lebanon with his mother Angela and her husband was the stuff of headlines in several Pennsylvania publications.

"This happened out of the blue," Pius X coach Phil Stambaugh said. "I had no idea he was being disenrolled. I am as much in the dark as anybody. I told him there are no hard feelings and that he would be welcomed back if the time ever came.

Pius X a Catholic school, is in many ways similar to FCS both in overall enrollment and class size.

The Commanders are coming off a 2011 Class 2A state championship. FCS finished the season 12-3 with a 34-0 victory over Dresden in the BlueCross Bowl Saturday, Dec. 4 at Tennessee Tech in Cookeville.

A run-first team last year, look for the Commanders to be airing it out come this fall.

Ive had several conversations with AJs mom, dad and step-father, McNeal said, theyre all on the same page. They just want AJ to be happy.

The Friendship Christian coaching staff is well-versed in dealing with major college recruiting based on the national attention former Commander quarterback Lee Sweeney drew several years ago.

Now an assistant coach at Tennessee Tech, Sweeney was a two-year starter at FCS and a Mr. Football Finalist who went on to sign in 2005 with the University of Louisville.

Sweeney had offers from several other Division I schools including Hawaii and Connecticut.

He transferred to Tennessee Tech and wrapped up his Golden Eagle career ranked first in career passing yards (7,157) as well as first in career total offense (6,805). He tied for the school record with 13 games passing for 200 yards or more.